Orissa blocks its ore export from two Andhra ports

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Orissa has continued to stop its iron ore exports from two ports in Andhra Pradesh on concerns over their mechanism to check illegal shipments, an official said yesterday. The state stopped issuing permits for ore exports through the Gangavaram and Kakinada ports early last month after they failed to provide their operational details.

"Gangavaram has in the meanwhile given us the required information and we are examining that. But Kakinada has not responded," state Steel and Mines Secretary Manoj Ahuja said.
Iron ore mined in the state is exported from ports in many states, including Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Orissa has initiated several steps to check illegal mining and export of iron ore from the state after some politicians alleged in July 2009 that some mines were operating without licences.
Source: IANS

Andhra Pradesh’s home minister in CBI net over illegal mining

Oct31, 2011 | Agency: DNA

Hyderabad :In an effort to step up the investigation into the illegal iron-ore mining by jailed mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy, the CBI has brought Andhra Pradesh’s home minister Sabitha Reddy under its scanner.

CBI officials questioned Reddy for two hours late on Friday. She was the mines minister from 2004 to 2009 during former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s regime and is believed to be instrumental in offering several clearances to various mines companies, including that of Janardhana Reddy.

Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), owned by Janardhana Reddy, was granted mining leases during YSR’s regime and several files pertaining to the leases were endorsed by Sabitha Reddy. Interestingly, the former mines minister’s questioning follows a grilling of the then mines secretary Sri Lakshmi.

In fact, Sri Lakshmi and the then director of mines, Rajagopal, have been under the CBI scanner and the duo was questioned by the CBI several times.Sri Lakshmi was called for yet another round of questioning by the officials on Friday, followed by Sabitha Reddy’s questioning. However, sources rule out any direct relation between the questioning of the duo.

One key aspect the CBI is looking at is the way the permissions for mining were accorded to Janardhana Reddy’s company. Sources said the CBI has found several interesting aspects in the way the files were cleared. Various approvals for OMC were given by the government and the files were cleared by Sabitha Reddy’s office the same day.

“About six mining leases were cleared on a single day and that is unusual since mining lease is a complicated issue,” the source said. The CBI has already questioned people at various levels starting from the sarpanch of the village where the mines are located to the minister now.

The CBI team has also recently visited Krishnapatnam port, one of the major private sector ports in the country. The port, located in Nellore, was used by Janardhana Reddy to export iron ore. CBI officials are believed to have collected several documents to support their case against him.

Reddy and his brother-in-law, BV Srinivas Reddy, are accused of having indulged in illegal mining and exporting iron ore mined in various places in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh by using OMC’s invoices.

The duo is currently lodged in the Chanchalguda central prison in Hyderabad. The CBI is said to be ready with the content required for the chargesheet and is expected to file the document within the stipulated timeframe.

Gangavaram port, An Indian modern port creates record

March03, 2011

Gangavaram Port, the deepest and the most modern port in India creates yet another record by discharging 65349 MT Coking Coal in 24 hours.

Gangavaram Port, the deepest and the most modern port in India, has created yet another milestone record by discharging 65349 MT Coking Coal in 24 hours from Panamax Vessel “MV WELSUCCESS” , according to an E-Mail received received by COALspot.com from Konnections on behalf of Gangavaram Port.

This vessel was handled at the Port on account of Rashtryia Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL). This discharge rate achieved is more than three times the discharge rate achieved at any other Indian Port.

The e-Mail furhter said, Gangavaram Port, in the past, has achieved numerous such operational milestones and has today redefined the economics of bulk cargo handling at Indian Ports. With 5 deep draft berths, GPL has handled more than 28 Million MT cargo since commencement of operations. The port has successfully handled more than 600 vessels including more than 45 fully laden capsize vessels of average size of 150,000 DWT. The vessels handled at GPL include the largest bulk vessels to have ever called at any Indian Port. The port ensures almost nil pre-berthing delay ensuring congestion free and efficient port operations. The Port handles a range of commodities such as Coking and Non-Coking Coal, Iron Ore, Limestone, Bauxite, Steel Cargo, Raw Sugar, Project Cargo, Slag and Scrap.

Gangavaram Port with its deep draft berth and the latest state of the art mechanized cargo handling systems has redefined port operational standards in India resulting in substantial and unprecedented benefits to the importers/exporters on account of savings due to reduced ocean freight and efficient cargo handling services.

About Gangavaram Port:
Gangavaram Port is the most modern and the deepest port in India located at Visakhapatnam, the industrial nerve center of Andhra Pradesh Please visit www.gangavaram.com

(sourced:coalspot)

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